Massive 7.6 Quake; Tsunami Waves Hit Northern Coast Japan

A major Magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off Japan's northern coast on Monday, prompting a tsunami warning and causing minor injuries.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake hit at 1415 GMT (11:15 PM local time) off Misawa on Japan's Pacific coast, at a depth of 53 kilometers (33 miles).

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami warning, confirming that two waves, both measuring 40 centimeters (16 inches), subsequently hit the northern regions: 1.The first wave reached a port in Aomori (where Misawa is located) at 11:43 PM local time (1443 GMT). 2.The second wave reached Urakawa town in the Hokkaido region seven minutes later, at 11:50 PM.

The JMA had earlier warned that a tsunami of up to three meters (10 feet) was expected to hit Japan's Pacific coast.

Local media reported immediate effects:An NHK reporter in Hokkaido described a horizontal shaking lasting about 30 seconds that made it impossible to stand upright.

A hotel employee in Hachinohe City, Aomori, reported injuries, with live footage showing shattered glass scattered across roads. Alarms rang on smartphones in the northern hub of Sapporo to alert residents.

The news report noted that Japan is one of the world's most tectonically active countries, sitting on four major tectonic plates along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," and experiences about 1,500 jolts annually.